Windmill.



110.802,144. PATENTBD 00T. 17, 1905. B. R. HARRINGTON. WINDMILL.

APPLICATION FILED DEU. 27, 1904L a SHEETS-SHEET 14.

No, 802,144. PATENTBD 0017.17, 1905.

B. R. HARRINGTON.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION TIILED DEC. 27, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 30 Z 29 Z922 2,9 Z9

PATENTED 00T.17, 1905.

B. R. HARRINGTUN.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION FILED mm2?, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WINDIVHLL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed December Z7, 1904. Serial No. 238,403.

ZO all LUI/1,0772, it nur/y concern:

Beit known that I, BnNoNI R. HRRINGTON, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Phoenix, in the county of Maricopa and Territory of Arizona, have invented a new and useful WindmilL of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in windmills.

The object of the presentinvention is to improve the construction of windmills and to provide an exceedingly-simple and comparatively inexpensive one adapted to control itself automatically and capable of developing' a maximum power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a windmill of this characterl having a rotary mast carrying a plurality pt' collapsible sails capable of expanding automatically when in proper position to receive the wind and adapted to be automatically collapsed by the wind when moving against the same, so that they will offer a minimum resistance to the rotation of the windmill.

With these and other objects in view theinvention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinatter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a windmill constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of the windmill, showing the same thrown out of operation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the windmill. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View illustrating the construction oi' the sails. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the lower end of the rotary mast. Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating the manner of journaling the upper end of the mast. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the construction of the governor. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the slidable frame, which is connected with the sails.

Like numerals of reference designatecorrespondiug parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a tower or supporting-frame, which may be constructed of any suitable material, either wood or metal, and which may be of pyramidal form, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or of any other desired shape. The supporting-frame or tower in the accompanying drawings is shown constructed of tubular metal, and it is composed of inclined side bars 2 and bottom bars 3 and 4. The bottom bars 3, which are disposed horizontally, connect the lower ends of the inclined bars 2 and form a triangle. The bars A extend inward from the lower ends of the inclined bars and are connected at their inner ends to a bearing 5, in which is stepped the lower end of a rotary mast 6. The bearing 5 is provided with a projecting flange 7, having grooves 'for the reception of the inner ends oi' the horizontal rods 4, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the lower bearing 5. The lower bearing is provided with a socket having thick vertical walls 8, which are provided at the top with a projecting annular iiange 9. 'The projecting annular iange 9 extends into an annular groove l0 of a cap or sleeve 11. The cap or sleeve 11, which is interiorly threaded to engage the lower threaded end of the mast 6, extends into the socket and has its lower face beveled from the center to the periphery to iit a series of tapering rollers 12; but any other form of antifriction device may be employed for the lower end of themast. The lower bearing is also provided with a central vertical pivot or spindle 13, which extends into a central bearing-opening of the sleeve or cap. The groove 10 of the sleeve or cap is located at a point between the top and bottom thereof and is' formed by al projecting annular flange. which over-hangs the iiange 9 of the lower bearing, whereby the latter is closed and is rendered dust-proof. The cap or sleeve is provided with an oil-hole 14, communicating with the interior oi' the lower bearing, and an oil-cup 15 may be provided, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings; but any other suitable means may be employed for lubricating the lower bearing.

The upper ends of the inclined bars are connected with a cap 16, iitted over the upper endI of the mast and provided with antii'riction devices 17, preferably consisting of tapered f rollers, as clearly shown in Fig.- 6 of the IOO drawings; but any other form of antifriction device may be employed, as will be readily understood. The cap 16 is provided with arms 18, which are tubular and which receive the upper ends of the inclined bars; but any other form of arm or connecting-piece may be employed for securing the upper ends of the inclined bars to the top bearing. The tower may be provided with an ordinary ladder for affording access to the upper bearing, or a pump 19 may be employed for lubricating the upper bearing. signed to be mounted on one of the inclined bars of the tower, as clearly shown in Fig'. l of the drawings, and it is connected by a tube or pipe 20 with the top bearing. The pump, which may be of any desired construction, is provided with a suitable filling-opening for supplying lubricant, and it has a check-valve 21. When the plunger of the pump is moved downward, oil will be forced through the tube or pipe into the upper bearing. i

The rotary mast is provided with diverging sail-supporting arms 22, preferably consisting of cross-rods extending horizontally through the mast and projecting from opposite sides thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings; but the diverging sailsupporting arms may be constructed in any other desired manner. rlhese sets of arms are arranged around the mast in a spiral series to locate the sails at different points around the same, and the arms also gradually decrease in length from the bottom to the top of the series to enable them to clear the inclined sides of the tapering tower or supporting-frame. The sails 23, which may be constructed of canvas or any other suitable material, are flexible and are of substantially pyramidal form, being tapered toward the back` and having horizontal approximately triangular top portions which are supported by the diverging arms. The sides of the sails depend from the top portions at the side edges thereof, and the bottoms of-the sails are preferably rounded, as shown. The enlarged front ends or mouths of the sails are open to permit them to be filled with air, and the top, bottom, sides, and back of the sails are closed. When the wind blows, the sails become filled and rotate the vertical mast. When a sail after being operated on by the Wind to substantially one-half a revolution of the mast passes to the opposite side of the same and moves against the wind,it will be automatically collapsed by the wind and will oiferbutlittle resistance to the rotation of the windmill, whereby the friction is reduced to a minimum. The sails, which may be reinforced in any desired manner to adapt them to the size and character of the windmill to which they are to be applied, are braced by guide-ropes 23, each extending from the inner side of one sail to the apex of the opposite sail, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The open ends of the sails The pump 19 is deare connected by ropes 24 with a verticallyslidable sail-closing device or frame composed of upper and lower rings 26 and 27 and connecting-rods 28. The ropes or other suitable iiexible connections are secured at their upper ends to the rods 28 and are provided at their lower ends with branches 29 and 30, extending to the sides and to the bottom of the sails, whereby when the slidable frame is raised the sails will be closed to stop the windmill.

The sail-closing device may be operated by hand by means of a flexible connection 31, consisting of a rope or the like secured at one end to the sail-closing device, preferably at the lower portion thereof and extending upward therefrom over one of the arms 22. This rope may be secured to one of the inclined bars of the tower when the windmill has stopped rotating, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, a suitable eye 32 being provided for this purpose. One or more of the ropes 31 may be employed for holding the windmill out of operation. A controlling rope or cable 33 is also connected with the slidable sailclosing frame, and in the accompanying drawings itis shown at the opposite side of the mast for convenience of illustration; but in practice it may be located at the same side of the mast as the rope or cable'31. The rope 33 extends over one of the arms 22 and is secured at its upper end to the slidable frame,

and its lower end is connected with the mast, being preferably offset from the same and arranged to be engaged by a governor 34, as hereinafter explained. A gear-wheel 35 -is suitably secured to the lower portion of the rotary mast for communicating motion to the device or machine to be operated, and it may be conveniently employed for operating pumps or any other form of machinery. The gear-wheel 35, which is disposed horizontally, meshes with a pinion 36 of a horizontal shaft 37, journaled in suitable bearings and extending from the windmill.

The lower end of the cord or rope 33 is preferably attached to the gear-wheel, near the periphery thereof, and the governor is provided with a spring-actuated slidable operating bar or member 38, mounted in suitable guides 39 of a bracket or frame 40 and arranged to be engaged by a cam 4l of a vertical shaft 42. The vertical shaft 42 carries a plurality of sails 43, preferably of pyramidal form similarl to those of the windmill; but any other form of sail may be employed either on the governor or on the windmill. These sails form a windwheel which is normally held against rotation by the spring of the governor. The reciprocating' rod or member 38 is provided at the inner end with a head 38, which is rounded for engagement with the rounded ends of the cam. f The head is normally held in engagement with the cam by means of a coiledspring 44, interposed between one of the IOO IIO

ISO

guides and a nut 45, carried by the slidable bar or member 38 and engaging suitable threads thereof. The nut is adjustable to vary the tension of the spring, which is adapted to hold the governor against rotation until the force of the windovercomes the power ot' the spring. The slidable rod or member 38 is then moved outward by the cam 4l, and when in the extended position (shown in Fig. 7) it is arranged in the path of the flexible connection 33 and is adapted to pull upon the same through the rotation of the windmill. Thisvwill partially close the sails and retard the rotation of the windmill. Should the wind increase in power and rapidly rotate the governor-shaft, the slidable rod or member will be maintained in an extended position sufliciently to raise the sail-closing device until it engages a catch 46, mounted on the rotary mast and located above the lower ring. rlhe catch may be of any desired construction, and when it is desired to start the windmill either of the ropes which are connected with the sail-closing devicc may be pulled to dislodge the lower ring from the catch. The dropping of the sailclosing device releases the sails, which open by gravity and by the wind intiating or eX- panding them. The spring-actuated rod or member may be provided with a flexible engaging end to permit it to yield slightly to avoid injuring the rope 33.

It will be seen that the governor for automatically throwing the windmill into and out of operation is controlled directly by the force oi' the wind and not by the speed of the windmill, and that by means of the spring.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. A windmill provided, with controlling means for throwing it into and out of operation, said controlling means embodying a wind-wheel actuated by the wind independently of the windmill.

2. A windmill provided with controlling' means for throwing it into and out of operation, said controlling means embodying a separate wind-wheel mounted independently of the windmill and actuated directly by the wind.

3. A windmill provided with controlling means for throwing it into and out of operation, said controlling means embodying a wind-wheel rotated directly by the wind, and yieldable means for holding the wind-wheel normally out of operation.

4. A windmill provided with controlling means for throwing it into and out of operation, said controlling means embodying a wind-wheel rotated directly by the wind, yieldable means for holding the wind-wheel normally out of operation, and an adjusting device for controlling the holding power of the said yieldable means.

5. The combination of a windmill havinga controlling connection, and governing means actuated directly by the wind independently of the speed of the windmill and provided with a movable member adapted to be carried into the path of the controlling connection of the windmill.

6. The combination of a windmill having a controlling connection, and a governor embodying a wind-wheel actuated directly by the wind independently of the speed of the windmill, a movable member operated by the windmill and adapted to be carried into the path ot' the controlling connection of the windmill, and yieldable means normally holding the said member out ofthe path of the controlling connection.

7. The combination ol a windmill'having a controlling connection, and a governor embodying a wind-wheel rotated directly by the wind, a reciprocatory member slidable into and out of the path of the controlling connection, a yieldable device connected with the said member for holding the same normally out of the path of the controlling connection, and a cam element connected with the wind-wheel and engaged by the movable member, whereby the windwheel will be normally held against rotation, said cam element being also adapted to actuate the movable member when the wind-wheel rotates.

8. The combination of a windmill having a controlling connection,and a governor embodying a wind-wheel, a reciprocatory member movable into and out of the path of the controlling connection, a cam carried by the wind-wheel and engaging the said member, a coiled spring disposed on the member for holding the same in engagement with the cam and normally out of the path of the controlling connection, said spring being also adapted to hold the wind-wheel normally against rotation, and an adjusting device for controlling the tension of the spring.

9. The combination of a rotary mast provided with sails, a sail-closing device movable on the mast and connected with the sails, a controlling connection for actuating the sailclosing device, a governor actuated directly by the wind independently of the rotation of the mast and provided with means movable into and out of the path of the controlling connection, and means for operating the sailclosing device by hand.

10. The combination of a rotary mast, a sail constructed of iiexible material and consisting of a pocket closed at the top, bottom, sides and back and open at the front, and rigid supporting means located solely at the top of the sail to permit the sides and bottom of the same to collapse against the support.

l1. The combination of a rotary mast, a sail made of lieXible material and consisting of a pocket closed at the top, bottom, and back and open at the front or mouth, and means Jfor collapsing the sail and for closing the front or mouth thereof, said means being provided IOO IIO

with a plurality of branches located at the mouth or open end of the sail.

12. The combination of a rotary mast, a plurality of collapsible sails forming pockets or receptacles Jfor holding the wind, said sails being open at one end and closed at the other. and a sail-closing device provided with means connected with the open ends of the sails for collapsing the latter.

13. A windmill, comprising' a rotary mast, diverging arms extending horizontally from the mast and arranged in pairs, and approximately pyramidal sails supported by the said arms and constructed of iexible material, the tops of the sails conforming to the configuration of the space between the arms and extending outward from the mast and means lor collapsing the sails.

14. A windmill, comprising a rotary mast provided with arms, collapsible sails supported by the arms and 'forming pockets for catching and holding the Wind, a frame slidable on the mast and extending longitudinally thereof, and flexible connections attached to the frame and provided with branches connected with the sails at the mouths ot' the pockets.

15. A windmill, comprising a rotary mast, rigid sail-supporting arms extending horizontally from the mast and arranged in pairs, said arms being arranged together at the mast and spaced apart at their outer ends, and sails constructed of liexible material and supported by the arms and depending therefrom and extending from the mast to the outer ends of the said arms, said sails being closed at the top, bottom, sides and back and open at the front.

16. A windmill, comprising a rotary mast, rigid arms arranged in pairs, the members of each pair being spaced apart at their outer ends and converging toward and supported by the mast, and sails constructed of flexible material and extending from the mast to the outer ends of the arms and supported by the same and having their tops conforming to the configuration of the space between the arms.

17. The combination o'tl a rotary mast, a sail constructed Aof liexible material and consisting of a pocket closed at the top, bottom, sides and back and open at the front, supporting means for the sail located solely at the top thereof, and means connected with the bottom of the sail for collapsing the latter.

18. The combination of a rotary mast having a horizontal support, and a sail depending from the horizontal support, said sail being constructed of iiexible material and consisting of a pocket, and means connected with the bottom ot' the sail for collapsing the same against the support.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiflxed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

BENoNI R. HARRiNeToN.

Vitnesses:

JAs. ELMORE MoRDEN, PHoEBE ALICE MORDEN. 

